Michael Cassidy Movies

A Yale-educated journalist goes from working at a tabloid to living the good life in Palm Beach after losing her job and landing a gig as live in tutor for the teenage granddaughters of a wealthy cosmetics mogul all in the course of one whirlwind day. Megan Smith (JoAnna Garcia) is in the early stages of her plan to conquer the world of journalism when she is suddenly informed that she no longer has a job. Shortly after getting fired, however, Megan meets cosmetics mogul Laurel Limoges (Anne Archer), who is currently seeking to hire a tutor for her teenage granddaughters Rose (Lucy Kate Hale) and Sage (Ashley Newbrough). Beautiful, rebellions, and completely abhorred by their optimistic new tutor, Rose and Sage discover just how determined Megan is to succeed in her new job when she attempts to lay down the law and see that the haughty young socialites receive a proper education. Of course the fact that Megan now lives in a breathtaking suite, drives an expensive convertible, and has her own private chef (Allan Louis) is enough to offset the constant scorn she receives from her two young charges, but what of handsome and wealthy next door dilettante Will (Brian Hallisay), who obviously has eyes for Megan despite the fact that he's dating her estranged sister Lily (Kristina Apgar)? Meanwhile, Megan's best friend Charlie (Michael Cassidy) pines for her in silence while attempting to summon the courage to express his true feelings. Staying afloat in the treacherous waters of high society in Palm Beach is no simple task, though perhaps if Megan can make a real difference in the lives of her willful young charges she can somehow get back on the path to living her dream. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Originally titled Palm Springs, the CW teen-angst series Hidden Palms would seem to have been a bid by producer-creator Kevin Williamson to replicate the success and appeal of his earlier TV hit Dawson's Creek. The series also served to reunite two former stars of the similar series The O.C., Taylor Handley and Michael Cassidy. Handley was cast as rebellious high schooler Johnny Miller, who after witnessing his dad's suicide and spending a lot of time in rehab, was relocated by his mother Karen (Gail O'Grady) and his stepdad Bob (D.W. Moffett) to one of the wealthier sections of Palm Springs, California. During an inordinately troublesome period of adjustment, Johnny made the acquaintance of Cliff Wiatt (Handley), a handsome preppie with a pronounced "dark side." Along the way, our hero dallied with Greta Matthews (Amber Heard), whose gorgeousness was counterbalanced by her weirdness, and with Nikki Barnes (Tessa Thompson), another misfit fresh out of rehab. Also carrying a torch for Johnny was the community's resident science nerd Liza Witter (Ellery Porterfield), who spent much of her leisure time mixing strange chemicals. Amidst all the raging hormones and intramural romances and rivalries, the cast members managed to get themselve involved in a murder mystery. And oh yes, all the younger characters paraded around in microscopic swimwear (surprise, surprise). Debuting May 30, 2007, Hidden Palms bounced all over the CW nighttime schedule until its cancellation on July 4 of that year. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi